Italy: Silvio Berlusconi hints at early elections

Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has conceded that early elections may be necessary if his slim majority in parliament is unworkable. He vowed to make a decision next month.

In a press conference in Rome yesterday, Mr Berlusconi also said that if his term finishes as scheduled in 2013 he would rather sit it out and let other conservative leaders run.

The 74-year-old prime minister said the job was too great a personal sacrifice and that he was convinced there were new conservative leaders who were "absolutely capable of becoming premier".

Mr Berlusconi, who narrowly won a no-confidence vote last week after two years of personal scandal and political infighting, added that he would bar all of his five children from politics.